Delivering personalized media items to users of interactive television and personal mobile devices by using scrolling tickers

Abstract

A system and method of delivering personalized media items to users of an interactive television is disclosed. The system comprises a television terminal, a computing device and a remote control device. The system stores a personal profile for each of its users. Personal mobile devices associated with the users are connected wirelessly to the computing device. Identities of the users may be transmitted from the personal mobile devices to the computing device. Media items are selected based upon the personal profiles according to a predetermined algorithm. Media items may be displayed using scrolling tickers on the television terminal. In one embodiment, a detailed content of a selected media item may be delivered either on the television terminal or on a display of one of the personal mobile device. In another embodiment, scrolling tickers may also be displayed on displays of the personal mobile devices.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of rendering a media item to a plurality of users of an interactive television system comprising a television terminal, a remote control device and a computing device, the method comprising:
 a. establishing communication links between a plurality of personal mobile devices and the computing device, wherein each of the personal mobile devices is associated with one of the users; 
 b. transmitting identities of the users from the personal mobile devices to the computing device through the communication links; 
 c. selecting by the computing device a plurality of media items in accordance with the identities of the users from a plurality of stored media items in the computing device in accordance with a predetermined weight for each of the users; 
 d. displaying on a predetermined position of the television terminal a plurality of scrolling tickers, wherein said scrolling tickers are representations of selected media items; 
 e. selecting one of the displayed scrolling tickers by one of the users employing the remote control device; 
 f. displaying on the television terminal representations of said connected personal mobile devices; 
 g. selecting one of said personal mobile devices by the user through the remote control device; and 
 h. transmitting at least one media item associated with the selected scrolling ticker from the computing device to the personal mobile device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises rendering the received media item to the user employing the personal mobile device. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said media item further comprises an advertisement. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said media item further comprises a video program. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said step of selecting media items is in accordance further with common categories which are interests to the users. 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said media items may be organized in a hierarchical manner by media categories, wherein said media categories may be displayed by using the scrolling tickers in a hierarchical manner. 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said communication links further comprise ad hoc communication links. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said ad hoc communication links further comprise a Bluetooth type of connection; or a Wi-Fi type of connection; or a ZigBee type of connection; or an optical type of connection. 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said television system further comprises an image capturing system for identifying the users. 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the media items are stored in one or a plurality of servers connected to the computing device through a communication network. 
     
     
       11. A method of rendering a media item to a plurality of users of an interactive television system comprising a television terminal, a remote control device and a computing device, the method comprising:
 a. establishing communication links between a plurality of personal mobile devices and the computing device, wherein each of the personal mobile devices is associated with one of the users; 
 b. transmitting identities of the users from the personal mobile devices to the computing device through the communication links; 
 c. selecting by the computing device a plurality of media items in accordance with the identities of the users from a plurality of stored media items in the computing device in accordance with a predetermined weight for each of the users; 
 d. displaying on the television terminal representations of said connected personal mobile devices; 
 e. selecting one of said personal mobile devices by one of the users through the remote control device; 
 f. transmitting metadata of selected media items to the personal mobile device through the communication links; 
 g. displaying on predetermined positions of the personal mobile devices a plurality of scrolling tickers, wherein said scrolling tickers are representations of selected media items; 
 h. selecting one of the displayed scrolling tickers by the user employing the personal mobile device; and 
 i. transmitting the media item associated with selected scrolling ticker from the computing device to the personal mobile device. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said method further comprises rendering the received media item to the user employing the personal mobile device. 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said media item further comprises an advertisement. 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said media item further comprises a video program. 
     
     
       15. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said step of selecting media items is in accordance further with common categories which are interests to the users. 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said media items may be organized in a hierarchical manner by media categories, wherein said media categories may be displayed by using the scrolling tickers in a hierarchical manner. 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said communication links further comprise ad hoc communication links. 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said ad hoc communication links further comprise a Bluetooth type of connection; or a Wi-Fi type of connection; or a ZigBee type of connection; or an optical type of connection. 
     
     
       19. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said television system further comprises an image capturing system for identifying the users. 
     
     
       20. A method of rendering a media item to a plurality of users of an interactive television system comprising a television terminal, a remote control device and a computing device, the method comprising:
 a. establishing communication links between a plurality of personal mobile devices and the computing device, wherein each of the personal mobile devices is associated with one of the users; 
 b. determining identities of the users by employing an image capturing system of the interactive television system; 
 c. selecting by the computing device a plurality of media items in accordance with the identities of the users from a plurality of stored media items in the computing device in accordance with a predetermined weight for each of the users; 
 d. displaying on a predetermined position of the television terminal a plurality of scrolling tickers, wherein said scrolling tickers are representations of selected media items; 
 e. selecting one of the displayed scrolling tickers by one of the users employing the remote control device; 
 f. displaying on the television terminal representations of said connected personal mobile device; 
 g. selecting one of said personal mobile devices by the user through the remote control device; and 
 h. transmitting at least one media item associated with the selected scrolling ticker from the computing device to the personal mobile device.